Deion Sanders’ dream debut as college football coach quickly turned into a nightmare when he returned to the locker room after the game.
“I’m upset right now,” Sanders told reporters after leading Jackson State in the 53-0 win over Edward Waters on Sunday. “While the game was going on, someone came in and stole everything I had [the coach’s office]. “
The Professional Football Hall of Fame – and the Yankees’ former outside defender – listed what was missing: his cell phone, wallet, credit cards and watches.
“How?” the 53-year-old screamed in disbelief.
Moments after the press conference, university officials told Sports Illustrated that Sanders’ items were “lost” after being moved to “safe guard” and were returned.
Case closed? Not exactly.
“Whoever says my belongings were not stolen is LYING,” tweeted Sanders. “My belongings were removed from a zippered bag in my office and more items were also taken from my office. We have recovered them since they were reported. My team member witnessed the crime. #Truth”
He later tweeted: “a team member got into the theft that was being committed, but he couldn’t fight a guy.”
After Sanders’ tweets, a spokeswoman for the Jackson State Athletics Department said she considered “this an isolated incident” but would review security protocols.
“However, we refuse to allow this to hinder the victory of our JSU Tigers,” said Ashley Robinson, vice president and director of athletics.
Sanders, whose net worth is said to be $ 40 million, was appointed coach of the historically black college in September.
A member of the Southwest Athletic Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Jackson State had part of its season moved to spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.